Auto Craft Shop provides spring car-care tips

With warm weather just around the corner, car owners need to know some tips to keep their vehicles operating in peak condition after the harsh and wet winter the area has encountered.
Andy Toler, director of the Kawamura Arts and Crafts Center and Auto Craft Shop, noted some of the things car owners can do to transition their vehicles from cold to warm weather.
"With the spring and summer coming up, owners need to make sure their air conditioning is operating correctly," Toler said. "It is also best to check your tire pressure and the wear on the treads to make sure the tires are in good shape.
"Hot weather, just like cold weather, can significantly affect a car's performance," Toler said.
According to Fairfax County's Web site, there are several tips that car owners should know during the transition from cold to warm weather, including checking the air filter, tires' air and fluids; keep up with oil changes, check spark plugs, keep the car clean inside and outside; check wiper blades and keep track of your gas mileage.
Toler highlighted some other things to have checked out.
"It is wise to have your car inspected with changing weather because then you can identify potential issues," Toler said. "Owners should be wary of their engine belts, because a lot of belts expand and contract because of the cold and the heat."
Toler said to also check coolant and other fluid levels, shocks, brakes and headlights.
"With headlights, the switch from cold to hot weather can fog up your lights so it's important to keep your lights as clean as possible," Toler said. "It is also recommended you change your air filter twice a year and your fuel filter may also need changing."
The Belvoir Auto Craft Shop is available to patrons on post and can be reached at 703- 806-4088.
"Here at the shop, we don't do actual repairs, but we can check the vehicle for leaks and show owners where they are. If you want to change it out you can do that here," Toler said. "We have a transmission flush machine and a coolant flush machine; if owners want to come in and do their own flushes themselves, they can."